Original Item: Only One Available. The Sturmabteilung-Wehrmannschaft (Storm Division Military Team) was the military training defense group of the SA and was formed in 1939. The purpose of this organization was to provide military training to SA members before and after their military service. This quickly expanded to all civilian males aged 18 to 65 years old, and by May, 1944, over 3 million Germans had participated in this program. The group also served as an internal defense unit.

This is a lovely set of two SA Defense Team Sports Training Badges, one in Silver grade and one in Bronze. Both are manufactured from stamped steel, which was then washed with the appropriate material for the grade, which may have been metal powder paint. The silver badge definitely retains much more of the original wash, and is still clearly silver, while the bronze badge has lost most of the wash on the front, showing the bronze well only on the reverse. Both badges have intact functional pinbacks, under which is the following marking:

EIGENTUM D. CHEFS D.
AUSBILDUNGSWESENS

This basically indicates that the badges are the "property of the SA-Sports organization".

The silver badge is maker marked on the back by W. REDO / SAARLAUTERN on the arms of the swas. Werner Redo is a known manufacturer of this badge, located in Saarlautern, on the border with France. Today the town is known by its Pre NSDAP rule name, Saarlouis, the name it has born for centuries. There is no issue number stamped.

The bronze badge is maker marked on the back by E. SCHNEIDER / LÜDENSCHEID on the arms of the swas, for maker Ernst Schneider of Lüdenscheid, a city with a large garment accessories industry. It is also marked with issue number 317880, which indicated who it was issued to.

A lovely set of SA Defense Team Sports Training badges, ready to research and display!

The SA Sports Badge was a decoration of NSDAP Germany that was issued between the years 1933 and 1945. It was a political version of the much more generic German Sports Badge, which was also issued in great numbers by the NSDAPs. At its center was a 57mm high Roman broad sword, superimposed over a NSDAP swas. It was encircled by an wreath of oak leaves. It was a pin-back badge. There was a cloth version, as well.

The SA Sports Badge was instituted on 28 November 1933 by then SA chief Ernst Röhm. It was originally only issued in bronze through the year 1935. The on 15 February 1935, AH decreed that the badge be officially recognized. It was thereafter issued in three grades (bronze, silver, and gold). No longer was the physical fitness badge to be awarded only to SA members, but to youth of all German military and paramilitary organizations. Originally the badge grade was awarded on degrees of "proficiency". Then in 1936, a points system was established. In 1937, the requirement for the holder of the award was upgraded. Each recipient had to pass an annual proficiency test to retain the badge.

On 19 January 1939, jugend changed the name of the badge from SA-Sportabzeichen (SA Sports Badge) to SA-Wehrabzeichen (SA-Defence Badge). AH challenged all able-bodied boys age 16 and up to compete for the award. Older military men were also encouraged to obtain it. The badge was one of the few political decorations that the armed forces allowed to freely be displayed on a military uniform. By December 1936, one million had been awarded. Then by the end of 1943, over 2.5 million had been awarded.

The physical fitness program was divided into three sections, gymnastics, defensive sports and agricultural service. The badge was to be worn on the left breast, under the Iron Cross.

Grades:
- The Bronze SA Sport/Defence Badge was awarded to those who had successfully passed an educational and physical programme.

- The Silver SA Sport/Defence Badge was awarded to those who held the Bronze badge for five years and had participated and passed the annual requirements and also having passed the age of 35.

- The Gold SA Sport/Defence Badge was awarded to those who held the Silver badge for six years and successfully participated in the annual requirements and were over 40 years old